Automatic grip for lifesaving devices



Jan. 18, 1944. J. FRANKEL 2,339,328

AUTOMATIC GRIP FOR LIFE SAVING DEVICES Filed Feb. 12, 1943 :5Sheets-Shet 1 INVENTOR.

- Jack Hart/rel TBY ATTORNEY J. FRANKEL AUTOMATIC GRIP FOR LIFE SAVINGDEVICES Jan; 18, 1944.

Filed Feb. 12, 1943 3 Sheets Sheet 2 M J x INVENTOR. Ea/ frizrekelATTORNEY \m I I a Z; a a Z Z a v n: fifiwmv m m r P A A W 1.2 m- 4 5 mLT w. L M Wm 3 W, IIWH 7 I 2 Jan.. 18, 1944. J. FRANKEL 2,339,328

AUTOMATIC GRIP FOR LIFE SAVING DEVICES Filed Feb. 12, 1943 sSheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. Jack Mamie! I BY ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 18,1944 UNITED STA'TES :QFFIICE Y 2,339,328 :AIIIQMA'EIQGBIP romtnt issvmfi-DEVICI41S This invention relates .to .:new;and aiusefuliz-improvementsin a'lifesavingzdevice.

ll/lore specifically, 1 the invention rproposes :the construction ofi anovel typesof; clamp; for use; in a life savingdeviceiforazpersonscworking in .e1evated' positions on scafiold-s andtheilike and.;arrangediin a manner .toibeeenga eable .withaa safety beltand an adjacent: guy. rcpe.

"Still further it. is proposed to :characterizeithe clamp ibyf: abracket having =.a .ffixed: jaw: engageable .against one sidenofthew-guy rope andaslidably: supportingca movable :.-jaw.- arranged: in;a

manner tobeengageable againstuthe guyrope .on

the side: opposed to the: side engaged .byithefixed -A further. objectof .the invention proposes; a

novel means for supporting themcvable. jawupon the bracket in: a:mannerr.tocbe,-movable.,;towards the fixed jaw: for :rigidlygripping-the.- guy stones.

lIt is still further proposed-to;.provide,;a novel means iformmovingnthe .-.slidably mounted arjaw towards the fixed jaw andswhich ;is:,.arranged.;;in

a 1 mannerz toepermit .:;th clamping. a,ction tc; be quickly; effected.

Still further the invention contemplates ,amauv -t0matic gripdevice'which will automatically, .=reclose the slida'blymounted jaw-ontothe guy rope in. the event of .anzrem'ergency. wWith this;-arrangementit is impossible for, a personusingthe device.toexperienceiafall of anyrd-istance. 5 112134 fall-.should start itwill .be arrested. immediately.

For further comprehension of .thisinvention, and. of the objects; andadvantages thereof,- reference willbe had to the. following descriptionand accompanying drawings, andtotheappended i Fig. Sis a perspective:viewof the bracket and associated parts per se. i

Fig. 4 is an end elevational view of Fig. 3. I Fig. 5 is a plan view ofFig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the line 66of Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is a horizontal sectional .viewtalgen substantially onjthe lineof Fi 3.

. Fig. 8.,.-is a verticalsectional.;view;- takenc.;Qn the. line 8-9-8 ofFig. 5.

(organ- 49) 1-,Fig.t:s'9;is aeverticalr sectionahview.taken-on thealinei9.;-9.:.ofitig. 5.

555.10 is;.as iragnientaryeenlargedverticalsectionalsviewetaken.ons'theoline; Merl-1010f; :Fig,.= 7

:Fig. 11; is-ra fragmentary, sectional view ..=taken on the-slime;- ll-lI of Eigifl.

gaging belt, per se.

'Thetlife-saving device; in. accordance with..-this invention,.sincludes a :belt in 5101'2. engagement about: the evzaist $01118.=.person.ioperatingelfrom a suspended scaffold: I l. h'llhabeltelurissofeconven- .tionalconstruction-and inclndesra buckleefl. on one.end. The tbuckleil 2...ha .a. ipivot'ale tongue; I 3 selectivelyengageableewithtoneeci ca; plurality. of open-ing s-l Informed \inatheother Lend .of ;the-.belt. :Attached toaspacedepositions-along the legth-01 the belt I0 there is provided,aepairtofnlegsengagingt acJE-Mhich.care.-.-arrangedirto .ngage Lthetopt ofthe:wearersi.legsdmmediately adja cent-gathecmtch. Thecpositioning of.the belt; I U and straps dsuupqns'fthe waist'softa .pexsoncis.clearlyiillustrated. imsEig; 1 ;,;of -;the drawings.

.belt 11 0 and; a;g.-uy ironed 1- rejected downwards.adjacentthecscafiold' .l I Theclampd 6 i ;characterized' byaibracketlll shav g acpairL ofifor- :wardly =:extendingteyesportions 19. :Each .ofthe eye epieces is ;presided smith .9; downwardly -extendingfastening; means byiavhich the. bracket! 8 Ea'ch of. the fasteningrmeanssis characterized by; a zsfiexi-ble. gable. 120 .-.project.ed throughand having aits-endscsecured to a-rigid .tub'e member -2 l.which.actstoencase. itscables. ..Mounted-upon each of the cables adjacent thelowerend of the tub members -2 l ---there--is. a: clamp di -having. a

spring closed jaw 23. Ifhese elamps-2 tare-engagedwith-eomplgmentary---rins -24 I se cu;rely

mounted;- upon the belt 7| 0 at points .7 adjacent the -straps 'l5.

nt one end the bracket ai intestal yioltme .wit la. sarw viex en iect a.ribt

.f h sia 11 2 9 $5 is ar a e .zi qfi t de q beds memb #5- al .?ll laz piig &i iitllQ -cmbersgzs .snqi fiare crinpqrwith-nerticel xextendinsemiciculaigcut outsi :2 1.. arranged to .engage. about "theegllyiaropescall. The surfaces of thecut-outs a ernrovideecwitht mluraliy ofserrations-28 jaw member 26 into and out of operative position Iwith relation to the fixed jaw '25. This means is characterized by ahollow screw 32 which threadedly engages through an opening formed inthe lug 29 and a solid screw 40 which threadedly engages through ahollow screw 32. The outer end of the solid screw 40 is provided with awheel 33 securely held in position by a pin 34. The wheel 33 provides ameans by which the screw 46 may be turned. The inner end of the solidscrew 46 hasan enlarged head 4| which is rotatively connected tothejaw'26 at a position between'the side arms thereof. This rotativeconnection is accomplished by the enlarged head 46 engaging into acomplementary opening 35 formed in the jaw member 26.. A pin 36.is.projected inwards from one face of the jaw member 26 and engages into acomplementary circular groove formed on the said enlarged inner end 4|of the screw 45.

Means is provided by which the screws 32 and 46 may be locked in,relatively adjusted positions. This means comprises a set screw 43threadedly engaged through the hollow screw32 and abutting against areduced. shank portion 44 formed I upon .theisolid screw 40.

A'drivengear transmission connection 45 connects with a hollow :screw32, and is provided with a double acting clutch 46 by which thehollowscrew 32 may be driven in one direction or the.other..fMre..Specifica11y, the driven gear transmission 45 includes aspring motor 41 which ismountedon the bottom of the casing 48 of. a

double. clutch 46. The driven shaft 49 of the spring motor 41 isprovided with a beveled. gear 50' which simultaneously meshes with thebeveled ears'5l. and 52 or shaft58iof the double clutch 46. A; lever53..controls the double clutch ,46.

This lever is pivotally mounted intermediately on the lugs 54. One endof the lever 53 projects from an opening 55 formed in the top of theeasing 48.. The other end of the lever 53 is offork shape and controlstheshift collar 56 of the doubleclu'tch;

v A spring 51 normally urges the lever 53 into one positionin which theclutch 46 is-closedin one condition in'which rotations from the beveledgear 56 will be transmitted to gear to drive said shaft 58 of the clutchin one direction. The details of the clutch 46 will not be given in thisspecification as it "forms no part of'the invention and double clutchesof this type are generally known. However, it is pointed out that theclutch 46 is of such' design that when the'lever 53 ispulled to theright; specific reference being had to Fig.10,"the-clutch collar 56 willbe moved and the double clutch will be drawnso that now the rotationsfrom the beveled gear 55 ar trans- The gear Bills-merely an idlergeanrotatlvely mountedon' the? stud 62.

drops the lever 53.

The gear 5| is coaxially mounted on the outer end of the hollow screw32.

Means is provided for limiting the unscrewing of the hollow screw 32.This means includes a stationary peg 63 which projects from the bracketis and which engages a groove 64 formed in the adjacent side of the gear6i. This groove 64 is concentric with the center of the gear 6| andextends through a distance of substantially 320, as illustratedparticularly in Fig. 11.

The operation of the device is as follows:

A person about to work upon a scafiold similar to that shown at H on thedrawings, engages the belt l6 about his waist. The straps l5 are engagedabout the top of the legs. The clamps 22 of the clamp l5 are thenengaged with the rings 24 mounted on the belt Ii). The guy rope I1 isthen engaged between the jaw members 25 and 26 of the clamp H5. The setscrew 43 is then loosened and the wheel 33 is turned to move the'scre'w40 inwards through the screw 32 and thus move the jaw member 26towards the jaw portion 25 to firmly grip the guy ropes l1. With thelife saving device thus assembled it will be noted that it ispractically impossible to fall to the ground in the event that a personloses his footing on the scaffold, or if one of the ropes from thescaffold should break.

If it is desired to hoist or lower the scaffold and it becomes necessaryfor the clamp Hi to be moved upwards or downwards upon the guy ropell,it is merely necessary to move the projecting end of the lever 53 so asto throw the clutch 46. The spring motor 41 now functions to drive theshaft 58 backwards and this rotation will be trans,- mitted' by thegears 59, '66 and (ii to the hollow screw 32; The hollow screw will turnsubstantially'320l or so, depending on the angular distance of thegroove 64. Then the spring motor '41 is restrained and stops. However,when the screw 32 unscrews the amount mentionedthe jaw'member 26 ismoved outwards, and now the clamp l6 will be loose on the guy ropes [7.Thus the clamp l6 may be shifted upwards or downwards.

In'the' event a person loses his footing, or the scaffold.- startsfalling, at this instant he merely The spring 51 moves the lever'53ba'ckinto its original position, throwing the clutch l6 back to its originalposition. Then thesp ring motor 4'1 drives the shaft 58 in the oppositedirection. This rotation will be transmitted by the gear 59, 66 and 6|to screw back the hollow screw 32 which moves the jaw member 26 backinto its position, catching .and gripping the guy rope IT. The fall isthus arrested! While I have illustrated and described the (preferredembodiments of my invention, it is'to be understood that I do not limitmyself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right isreserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of theinvention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure byUnited States Letters Patent is: i

1. In a'life saving device for persons working in an elevated positionnear a guy ropefand provided with a safety belt, a clamp attached tosaid safety belt, and comprising a bracket having a pair of front eyeportions for fastening" means by which it may be connected With saidsafety belt, said bracket having 'a rearwardly extending jaw portion forextending along-a side portion of'said said side portion of saidguyrope, said jaw memjaw portion for extending along the: other herbeing slidably'modntedontherear' trsa,

bracket, a lug projectingrearwards rio saia 6 lS gaging throughsaidhollow screw and rotatively connected w a Jew member.for' eti ersai jawmember to grip said guy rope inassocia tion with said jaw portion, meansfor releasably looki sa sc e s t se na d v n. ea i ansmission connectingwith said hollow, screw and havinga doubleacting clutchpy, h hisaidhollow scre ma be r ven. nv nefidl ec ion th other d r on, d m ans orlimt rs ru s g ewins 0; ai h ll w. acrew, said e ns. for-relea ably lockingsaidscrewstogether comprising a '20 set screw mounted throughthe hollowscrew; and n a in the int r al sc w, sai last-name screw having areduced section against which the set screw c1amps. k v i,

2. In a life saving device for personsworking in an elevated positionnear a guy rope andprovided with a safety belt, 'a'cla'mp attachedtosaid safety belt, and, comprising a bracket having a pair of front eyeportions for fastening means by which it may be connected with saidsafety belt, said bracket having a rearwardly extending jaw portion forextending along a side portion of said guy rope, a jaw membercomplementary to said jaw portion for extending along the other side ofsaid side portion of said guy rope, said jaw member being slidablymounted on the rear of said bracket, a lug projecting rearwards fromsaid bracket and extending along the outer side of said jaw member, ahollow screw threadedly engaging through said lug, a screw threadedlyengaging through said hollow screw and rotatively connected with saidjaw member for setting said jaw member to grip said guy rope inassociation with said jaw portion, means for releasably looking saidscrews together, a driven gear transmission connecting with said hollowscrew and having a double acting clutch by which said hollow screw maybe driven in one direction or the other direction, and means forlimiting unscrewing of said hollow screw, said driven gear transmissionincluding a spring motor.

3. In a life saving device for persons working in an elevated positionnear a guy rope and provided with a safety belt, a clamp attached tosaid safety belt, and comprising a bracket having a pair of front eyeportions for fastening means by which it may be connected with saidsafety belt, said bracket having a rearwardly extending jaw portion forextending along a side portion of said guy rope, a jaw membercomplementary to said jaw portion for extending along the other side ofsaid side portion of said guy rope, said jaw member being slidablymounted on the rear of said bracket, a lug projecting rearwards fromsaid bracket and extending along the outer side of said jaw member, ahollow screw threadedly engaging through said lug, a screw threadedlyengaging through said hollow screw and rotatively connected with saidjaw member for setting said jaw member to grip said guy rope inassociation with said jaw portion, means for releasably locking saidscrews together, a driven gear transmission connecting with said hollowscrew and having a double acting clutch by which said hollow screw maybe driven in one direction or H ahdfi s limiting 1 x wln ii d. hollow,trew s r n m an riior ally ur in js'aiddoubl'e acting'clutchin 'e diection inwh'ichthedrivengear transmisthefhollowscrew inwards for closingh 'iawmem era. a H

4 "1n"a"1ire' savii1gjdevice for'persons working a eifatedposition'nearaguy rope and pro- :vided with a safety" belt, a" clamp attached tosaidsafety belt, andjcomprisingia br'acket'havin fa pair of. front'eyeportions for fastening means by which it'ma'y 'be' connectedwith'said safety, belt, isai'd 'bracktih'avin g a rearwardly extendingjaw poftionflforj extend ng alonga side "portion or said ro'pa'a j awrnember' complementary to "said .ngrtionlqr ,l ja 'g 'y rob "said i i meb sliddbly ountedon therear'of'said brackprojectingrearwards from saidbracket a esaendmg alongthe outer side of said ja'w member, "a hollowscrew threadedly fe'n'ga'ging through said lug, a screw 'thre'adedlyengaging V i'd i hollowscrewj androta'ti ve'ly "com nectedfwlthsaid jawmember for setting said j'aiwjmember to g ip said guy ropeinhs'sociation It th's'aidjaw portion, means for releasablyloclking saidscrewstogether, a driven gear transmission connect i lwith fsaid hollowscrew and having" a double ac'tifig clutch by Which'sa'id hollow screwmay be driven in one direction or the other direction, and means forlimiting unscrewing of said hollow screw, and spring means for normallyurging said double acting clutch in one direction in' which the drivengear transmission screws the hollow screw inwards for closing the jawmember, and a lever for throwing said clutch.

5. In a life saving device for persons working in an elevated positionnear a guy rope and provided with a safety belt, a clamp attached tosaid safety belt, and comprising a bracket having a pair of front eyeportions for fastening means by which it may be connected with saidsafety belt, said bracket having a rearwardly extending jaw portion forextending along a side portion of said guy rope, a jaw membercomplementary to said jaw portion for extending along the other side ofsaid side portion of said guy rope, said jaw member being slidablymounted on the rear of said bracket, a lug projecting rearwards fromsaid bracket and extending along the outer side of said jaw member, ahollow screw threadedly engaging through said lug, a screw threadedlyengaging through said hollow screw and rotatively connected with saidjaw member for setting said aw member to grip said guy rope inassociation with said jaw portion, means for releasably looking saidscrews together, a driven gear transmission connecting with said hollowscrew may be driven in one direction or the other direction, and meansfor limiting unscrewing of said hollow screw, and spring means fornormally urging said double acting clutch in one direction in which thedriven gear transmission screws the hollow screw inwards for closing thejaw member, and a lever for throwing said clutch, said lever beingmanually releasable whereupon said spring functions.

6. In a life saving device for persons working in an elevated positionnear a guy rope and provided with a safety belt, a clamp, comprising abracket attached to said safety belt and having an integral rearwardlyextending jaw portion for 1 extending along a side portion of said guyrope, a jaw member slidably mounted on the rear face of said bracket toengage the other side of said side portion of said guy rope, a lugformed on said bracket along the outer side of said jaw member,

a hollow screw threadedly engaging through said lug, a screw threadedlyengaging through said hollow screw and having its end engaging a recessin said slidable jaw member; a pin on said slidable jaw member engaginga circular groove in said screw for rotatively connecting said innerscrew and said jaw member so that rotations of said screw will set saidslidable jaw member to grip said guy rope with said jaw portion, asetscrew threadedly engaged through said hollow screw and abutting theinner screw for locking the screws together as a unit, a'driven geartransmission terminating in a gear mounted on said hollow screw andhaving a double acting clutch by which said hollow screw-maybe turned inone direction or the other, and a peg projecting from said bracket andengaging a groove in the adjacent face of said gear on said hollow screwlimiting turning of said hollow screw to positions in which saidslidable jaw member engages said "guy rope or is free of said guy rope.

7. In a life saving device for persons working of said bracket to engagethe other side of said side portion of said gu'y rope, a lug formed onsaid bracket along the outer side of said jaw member, a hollow screwthreadedly engaging through said lug, a screw threadedly engagingthrough said hollow screw and having its end engaging a recess in saidslidable jaw member, a pin on said slidable jaw member engaging acircular groove in said screw for rotatively connecting said inner screwand jaw member so that rotations of said screw will set said slidablejaw member to grip said guy rope with said jaw portion, a set screwthreadedly engaged through said hollow screw and abutting the innerscrew for locking the screws together as a unit, a driven geartransmission terminating in a gear mounted on said hollow screw andhaving a double acting clutch by which said hollow screw may be turnedin one direction or the other, and a peg projecting from said bracketand engaging a groove in the adjacent face of said gear on said hollowscrew limiting turning of said hollow screw to positions in which saidslidable jaw member engages said guy rope or is free of said guy rope,said groove in said gear being arranged in an arc concentric with thecenter of said gear and extends a distance of substantially 320 degrees.

JACK FRANKEL.

